Page 21 of Shifters Awakening (Shifters Destiny: Willow Creek Shifters #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

emma

Monday

S hannon and Riley were both already at the office before I arrived, and they both waited at the entrance as though they believed I wouldn’t make it in at all. They both looked me over, and neither one seemed to want to be the first to speak.

“Ready to get started?” I asked as I stepped in through the rear entrance, forcing my voice to be more cheerful than my sleepless night before warranted. A thunderstorm hadn’t helped.

Riley nodded her head and grinned. “Sure thing, Emma.”

Shannon pulled me aside the minute Riley bounded away to unlock the front door. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Riley had gone. “Are you okay?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be? ”

“I heard something about you making out with Logan Blackwood.”

His name slammed into my stomach like a fist, pushing all the air from my lungs.

I said the only syllable I could manage. “Oh?”

“Yeah. Sheila called here to say they hadn’t found Sully-Boy yet, but they were still looking. She asked if I knew anything about what had happened to you two Friday night.”

“Ah.” How do I comment on that?

“I thought you went camping on Saturday. Your mom thought you were camping Saturday night.”

“I was.”

“Then you didn’t come home Sunday, and you didn’t answer your phone.”

I snorted. “I know everyone is accustomed to me being available twenty-four/seven, but I wanted more time out there.”

“Did you go camping alone?”

“Yes.”

Dammit. When had my life gotten so complicated, I had to choose my words so carefully? What a pain in the ass.

Shannon scowled. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Didn’t sleep well last night.”

“Because of Logan?”

“No, it was the storm,” I answered.

“Really?” she pressed.

“I had dinner with my mom last night. Now it’s Monday, and I don’t want to talk about my weekend, if you don’t mind.

” It came out more harshly than I intended, and her gaze clouded with hurt, so I laid my hand on her forearm.

“Listen. I appreciate your concern, Shannon. And Riley’s too.

” My eyes flicked to Riley who had reappeared after unlocking the front door.

“I’m fine. Just thrown for a little loop after the weekend.

When I decide how I feel about it and I’m ready to talk about what happened, I’ll let you know. Does that work?”

Riley nodded, and her expression changed from concerned to giddy suspicion.

The front door chimed.

I groaned. “Riley, it is not what you’re thinking. Logan had nothing to do with it.” But even as I said his name, my cheeks flamed.

“Yeah, okay. Boss got laid,” Riley quipped, winking at me before whirling to meet our first customer of the day.

“It wasn’t that!” I called after her. Exasperated, I turned to Shannon. “I didn’t have sex with Logan.”

“No, I don’t think you did, but you look like your life changed out there.” She paused, and her eyebrows scrunched. “And maybe not for the better.”

Before I could answer, crying in the waiting room caught my attention.

“Emma!” Riley shouted. “Get out here. It’s Sully.”

My heart clenched in my chest. That darn tabby.

Sheila stood in the middle of the room with a limp, furred lump in the middle of a pillow, resting in her outstretched arms. Callie tucked herself behind her mother, crying, as she hugged her mother’s waist.

I tugged the stethoscope from around my neck and pressed it to the matted, wet fur. “Do you know what happened?”

Sheila squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head, sending tears down her cheeks. “No, we found him like this in a drainage ditch, and his leg isn’t even healed all the way.”

I paused, holding my breath, listening carefully and counting. Thump… Thump…

Barely there.

But a pulse gave me something to work with, and a pulse meant hope.

I gathered the pillow from Sheila’s arms. He had punctures all over his skin, so he’d probably been mauled by something. Thankfully, he was up to date on all his vaccinations, and rabies probably wouldn’t be a lingering concern.

Not for the first time, I wished I could speak to the animals I wanted to help, to heal. Sudden warmth spread through my chest, and Sully’s toes stretched toward me as though he knew I was there, and it was almost as if I could hear his soul.

What happened to you, Sully?

My skin tingled as a rush of images filtered into my mind.

A pair of coyotes chased the tabby through hayfields, making his leg hurt and burn.

Lightning blinded him, and thunder frightened him.

When they finally caught him, he clawed and fought as his bones snapped.

Ribs… front legs… Then he squirmed into a small culvert where they couldn’t get at him .

“Prep surgical,” I said, smoothing my hands over my scrubs. “Just in case. Bring in the portable X-ray also.”

Shannon and Riley darted away as I carried the barely alive cat into the operating room. Sterile pads, supplies, and fluids appeared in short order with my freshly scrubbed-in nursing assistants.

“Take X-rays,” I said, jogging to the back to wash and mask.

When I made it back to the operating room, Sully had an IV drip of fluids and sedation, and his X-rays were displayed on the digital light board. I studied the images. Fractured ribs, hairline breaks in both front legs, something lodged in his skin near the base of his tail. Maybe a tooth?

The beep-beep-beep skipped beats, paused, and beat repetitively close together. Shock had to be a factor.

I turned to the tomcat, not sure he would make it out of this one, not so soon after his last surgery. The sutures hung out of the bright red, angry skin.

I scratched his ears, willing him to wellness and healing, begging him to survive.

A burst of wind moved through surgery and stirred the hair at the nape of my neck.

Colors circled my torso, down my arm, and into the cat, fluffing his shaggy fur.

What must have been my shifter magic poured into Sully-Boy as the audible heart monitor tone grew stronger and more even.

A thrill slid through me. I’d drawn on my power, and I’d healed him, at least to some degree. Ducking my face away from Shannon, I bit back the threatening smile. How many more could I save? Like this? Just this way ?

“What did you do?” Shannon said, her voice muffled behind her mask.

Riley’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “His name should be Lucky.”

“Let’s X-ray him again,” I said. “I’m not sure those first images were clear enough.”

Shannon shot me a questioning look. She knew it was a bogus reason. She was great at getting clear images. Still, she moved the imaging machine into place. A minute later, the X-rays populated on the digital board. No fractures, no punctures, and the tooth at the base of his tail had disappeared.

Shannon and Riley both gasped before pivoting toward me as though I had all the answers in the universe.

Sorry to disappoint, ladies. All I’ve got are secrets and a complicated life.

“I don’t think we’ll have to operate,” I said. “Could you get Sully settled in recovery?”

“Sure,” Shannon said.

Riley slipped out.

I strode into the waiting room.

Callie jumped to her feet. “Is he going to be okay?”

“He’s going to be fine,” I said. “We’ll keep him for observation, and you can pick him up at the end of the day. Maybe after school?”

Callie clapped her hands and danced in place.

“That sounds great,” Sheila said, nudging her daughter. “Speaking of school, we could still get you there on time. Maybe only miss a few minutes of first period?”

“Aw, Mom. Do I have to?”

“Yeah, you have to. Stay busy, and your day will go by more quickly anyway.”

After Sheila and Callie had gone, a tall, clean-shaven man strode in like he owned the place, each strand of his sandy blond hair finger-brushed into place. He wore a dark polo, and khaki slacks hugged his trim waist. “I’d like to speak to Emma Carter.”

I studied him a long moment, taking in the lack of pet hair on him and the rigid way he held himself. “I’m Dr. Emma Carter.”

“My name is Marcus Steele.”

“I’ve heard of you.” My mouth dried.

His had been the name mentioned after Olivia had morphed in the dining room to prove that shifting was real. Where Logan was dark and rugged, Marcus was much fairer and more svelte.

“How did you find me?” I asked.

“A few little birds told me where you lived,” he answered with a smile that didn’t make him seem at all pleasant, only calculating. “You should be more aware of your surroundings, Dr. Carter. We wouldn’t want someone as important as you to disappear, now, would we?”

My eyes widened. Little birds? Holy shit. Those had been ravens in the trees when I’d left Logan’s. They had been spies, and they must have followed me home. He had to have been watching my practice to sense the healing magic.

I lifted my chin. “Are you threatening me, sir? ”

“No, certainly not. It’s a comment on your value to the packs. I’d like to offer our protection to you.”

“Your protection?”

“Ville Platte Cats,” he said. “You belong in our clan, and I will not take your rejection as your answer.”

I crossed my arms, unwilling to cower before another attempt to force me into a life I wasn’t sure I wanted. “Are you here to bully me out of my life here in Willow Creek, Mr. Steele?”

“Certainly not, Dr. Carter, but if I could tell you used your magic in your vet practice, any other shifter in the vicinity would have as well. It’s a secret, is it not?”

“Sure.”

My stomach flip-flopped as the reality hit me. How was I going to keep from using my healing abilities in my day job? The magic would keep a target on my back.

He ducked his head. “Then consider this a friendly reminder that nothing you do—or don’t do—will ever again impact you alone. You’re now as integral to our lives as we are to yours. Keep that in mind as you consider my offer of protection.”

“I’m not interested in your protection, Mr. Steele.”

I didn’t buy his nonchalant attempt to convince me he was only doing me a favor by pointing out how I couldn’t stay secret or hidden. Nevertheless, his admonishment nearly scrambled my brain.

Was this how it was going to be from now until I died? Or some crazed shifter decided to end the life of the multimorph? Or what if the sorcerer Logan had mentioned found me instead? If the sorcerer bought into the prophecy, too, he wouldn’t want me around to mess up his plans.

Riley joined me at the front desk, her head swiveling between Marcus and me. “Things okay up here?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” I muttered.

Marcus tipped his head. “Of course,” he said. “I have several exotic pets, and I was looking for input from the best vet in town.”

“I’m not interested in taking you on as a client, Mr. Steele.” I leaned forward over the desk. “You might try Dr. Rod in the next town over. I believe he has more experience with exotics.”

“Very well,” Marcus said. “Have a nice day, Dr. Carter. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.”

“You too,” I said. “Say hello to Dr. Rod for me.”

Then he exited, leaving an oppressive silence in his wake. All I could do was stare through the window even after he zipped away in his slinky black Jag.

“Man, that dude was intense,” Riley said after Marcus left. “You never refer anyone to Dr. Rod. Where do you know Mr. Intense Douchey Dude from?”

“I don’t,” I said, forced-cheerful again, even though I wanted to throw up.

“I’ve never seen him around,” she added, fishing for more information.

“Me, neither.”

My attempt at happiness had faded, and I couldn’t resurrect it, not even for Riley’s sake. My heart sank as a cold sweat slicked my skin. I was trapped in a fucking mess not of my own making.

And I never wanted to see that particular asshole again.

Yet I knew it wouldn’t be the last time Marcus Steele stepped into my life.